BKPl'iLES IN THE TARN AND THE GREEN LANES. 101 



Let us conclude by noticing the Common Lizard 

 (Zootoca vivipara) the female of which, as the name 

 implies, brings forth its young alive, the eggs being 

 kept in her body previously, and hatching at birth. 

 Perhaps the only thing you see of this harmless 

 reptile when you disturb it is p . 



its tail, and that is just dis- 

 appearing. Indeed, you may 

 have taken it for a snake or a 

 viper getting out of your way. 

 This is perhaps the commonest 

 of all our British reptiles, and 

 may be met with abundantly, 

 even in Ireland. If you can 

 steal on it unawares, do so, and 

 watch the celerity with which 

 it catches insects. This lizard 

 forms a good and useful adjunct ,. . . 



J tiMa of Common Lizard. 



to a fernery, which it will keep 



quite free from insects, etc. 



(Lacerta agilis) was formerly confounded with that 



just mentioned, but it is quite distinct. in iorm 



and colour, however, it varies considerably. The 



commonest variety is of a 



sandy-brown, with greenish 



sides in the male, but 



brownish in the female. The 



belly is generally white, and 



spotted. It is thicker and Sand Lizard - 



more clumpy-looking than the common lizard, and 



The Sand Lizard 



Fig. 77. 



